Vietnam, Cambodia agree on measures to boost ties

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen yesterday agreed on several measures to strengthen multi-faceted relations between the two countries.

PM Hun Sen said he considered the Vietnamese leader’s official visit as having historical significance, with the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

The visit would provide strong momentum for the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries to thrive and grow, he said.

He spoke highly of Vietnamese investors’ contributions to Cambodia, noting that the military-run telecom group Viettel, the Vietnam Rubber Group, the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) and other corporations were running profitably and had paid their tax dues in full to the Cambodian Government.

Notably, Metfone-Viettel paid USD 400 million in taxes over the last decade, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development and paying attention to improving the people’s living standards, especially that of low-income earners and rural residents, Hun Sen said.

The two leaders agreed to continue promoting co-operation between Vietnamese and Cambodian localities, particularly those that shared borders. Ties between localities boosted the spirit of friendship, neighborliness and comprehensive co-operation, they said.

The premiers also said they would ask the joint committee for border demarcation and planting land border markers to step up talks and seek solutions on sections not yet demarcated, and work closely on border management. This would enhance peace, stability, co-operation and sustainable development along the shared border, they said.

They highly valued the outcomes of visits to either country by the countries’ senior leaders and agreed to increase delegation exchanges at all levels.

They also pledged to facilitate and seek effective measures to boost partnership in potential areas including trade and investment, banking, electricity, mining, oil and gas, industrial tree plantations, transport, telecommunications, and education and training.

Vietnam and Cambodia would maintain close co-operation in security and defense, they said, reiterating the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of either country to sabotage the other’s security and impinge the friendship and co-operation between both countries, the two leaders asserted.

They said both sides would also enhance collaboration to fight terrorism, transnational crime, smuggling, drug crimes and human trafficking. They would also press ahead with the search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Cambodia.

The two PMs discussed stepping up connections within the framework of ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Subregion. They also exchanged views on international issues of shared concern.

PM Phuc took the opportunity to express his appreciation of Cambodia providing good conditions for Vietnamese expatriates. He requested that appropriate measures are taken soon to recognize their legal status and affirm their Cambodian nationality.

He also called on Cambodia to recognize schools managed by Vietnamese-Cambodians there as part of the country’s education system.

In response, PM Hun Sen promised to direct relevant agencies of Cambodia to provide favorable conditions for Vietnamese-Cambodians to live and work in the country in line with Cambodian laws.

Following the meeting, the two PMs witnessed the signing of several co-operation documents.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport and Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on constructing the HCM City-Moc Bai and Phnom Penh-Ba Vet expressways.

Another MoU on building a voluntary rehabilitation center for drug addicts in Preah Sihanouk province was inked by Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.

The Directorate of Fisheries under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Fisheries General Department under the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed an official letter on extending the MoU on fisheries co-operation for another three years.

The Hanoi and Phnom Penh administrations signed a MoU on assistance for building the Phnom Penh-Hanoi friendship avenue.

After the talks, PM Phuc and his spouse laid wreaths at the Independence Monument, the memorial to late King Norodom Sihanouk, and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh. The two sides later issued a joint statement.- (VNS/VLLF)